ASPIRE Annual Report: Green flight tests results released

Airways New Zealand, Airservices Australia and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States are the founding members of the initiative created in February 2008 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation activities in the region through technological innovation and best practice air traffic management. Since then, the group has undertaken a series of three Trans-Pacific test flights in partnership with Qantas, Air New Zealand and United Airlines, to demonstrate and measure the emission reductions and fuel savings achievable through the use of existing efficiency procedures. ASPIRE demonstrates that when several efficient air traffic procedures are integrated and applied to a single flight, we see the potential for reductions in delays, fuel usage and emissions. These procedures will become a new standard for air traffic services in the NextGen system, said Hank Krakowski, Chief Operation Officer, Federal Aviation Administration. The first ASPIRE Annual Report highlights each of the green flights whose results will now be used in establishing a baseline for air traffic management performance and carbon emissions. The report also demonstrates the very real benefits of increasing global collaboration between air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and outlines a forward work plan. Through collaboration, the FAA, Airservices Australia and Airways NZ have become world-leaders in developing initiatives which help airlines in their quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ASPIRE is a tangible example of the willingness of airlines, industry and governments to work together to reduce aviation emissions on a global scale, said Ashley Smout, CEO, Airways New Zealand. Following on from the huge success of the green flights, ASPIRE recently won the prestigious Janes ATC Global Award, in recognition of its ground-breaking potential to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, beating out a highly competitive international field in the process.